Chief Clark, said the presence of military personnel in Edo State for the poll will negate the principle of free and fair poll.
In a statement, yesterday in Abuja, he said: “I seriously condemn the use military personnel for Edo gubernatorial election, because it is not only unnecessary but may create bias and fraud in the entire process. I strongly support the position of the civil rights group that condemned the use of military personnel in the Edo gubernatorial poll. I also support the reasons given for their decision.
“An advocate of an egalitarian society where peace, equity, justice prevail, and also as a politician, who participated in the political development of this country from independence till date, including witnessing the various elections till date, I wish to clarify as it concerns Edo State, so as to prevent a wrong precedent in future elections.
“First, Edo State is not a volatile state, it is crisis free. Edo is not known as a political thuggery state. Apart from the few schemishes during the campaign, which the police was able to contain, the state had been peaceful. It will be unnecessary and this may create bias, if the military was allowed to provide security, considering the fact that one of the contestants was a former military officer and one cannot therefore rule out the spirit of esprit de corps, if military personal are posted to monitor the election.
“I have seen a situation whereby only the police were deployed by the Inspector General of Police to conduct elections in other parts of the country, even in volatile cases. It is unnecessary and unfair for the army to be involved in the Edo gubernatorial election.
“I appeal to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Edo State on July 14, 2012 so as to justify the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians despite the disturbing news about the Edo State election.”
